The news comes at a time when Argentina is attempting to renegotiate almost US$200-billion in debt in order to stave off a damaging default.

The International Monetary Fund ended a week-long mission to the South American country on Wednesday, after which it said Argentina's total debt of US$311 billion, worth more than 90 percent of its GDP, was "unsustainable."

President Alberto Fernández said after taking over from market-friendly Mauricio Macri in December that Argentina would not be able to pay its debts if it did not return to growth.